Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>There is little in the long-term and current figures of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)</a> that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.</li>
<li>Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. </li>
<li>The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. </li>
</ul>


There is little in the long-term and current figures of Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.
Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. 
The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. 


Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

Haitong Securities Co Ltd (A) / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>With the potential corporate action (see additional reading below) there is more interest in Haitong Securities but operationally it does not appear positive, for many reasons</li>
<li>The company is seeing worse revenue growth in asset management, brokerage and investment banking, while its Haitong Bank can see far higher credit costs</li>
<li>Total operating costs are now 63% of revenue, tax rate is a lot higher, litigation risks seem to be oversized, with potential impact to costs</li>
</ul>


With the potential corporate action (see additional reading below) there is more interest in Haitong Securities but operationally it does not appear positive, for many reasons
The company is seeing worse revenue growth in asset management, brokerage and investment banking, while its Haitong Bank can see far higher credit costs
Total operating costs are now 63% of revenue, tax rate is a lot higher, litigation risks seem to be oversized, with potential impact to costs


Haitong Securities - Portugal Bank Goodwill Impairment Surge | Overall: High Costs, Poor Revenue

<ul>
<li>UOB can be harder hit than peers due to its greater SME focus. SME's may be less able to absorb or pass on higher costs, or manage worse demand.</li>
<li>Domestic credit growth is at -4.1% in July YoY, from -3.3% YoY in June and from 2.1% in May. This can represent risk-aversion, worse demand, deteriorating credit metrics in SG.</li>
<li>UOB's Greater China lending is SGD52bn, nearly identical to Thailand, Malaysia combined. Building &amp; Construction NPLs rose from SGD1.1bn to SGD1.4bn HoH to 2Q23.</li>
</ul>


UOB can be harder hit than peers due to its greater SME focus. SME's may be less able to absorb or pass on higher costs, or manage worse demand.
Domestic credit growth is at -4.1% in July YoY, from -3.3% YoY in June and from 2.1% in May. This can represent risk-aversion, worse demand, deteriorating credit metrics in SG.
UOB's Greater China lending is SGD52bn, nearly identical to Thailand, Malaysia combined. Building &amp; Construction NPLs rose from SGD1.1bn to SGD1.4bn HoH to 2Q23.


UOB - Weaker Credit | Struggling Cost Base | Moving to Trading | A Changing Face

<ul>
<li>Fee income is down 33% in the most recent quarter which may have prompted the bank to realize gains up 63% in the period to preserve profit growth</li>
<li>Quality of earnings is not strong, with more than half of the bank's pre-tax income delta driven by realized and unrealized gains, with credit cost decline the other key driver</li>
<li>Loss NPLs are now 26% of total NPLs, from 11% a few year ago, suggesting worsening credit metrics. Declining credit costs seem at odds with economy, NPL distribution.</li>
</ul>


Fee income is down 33% in the most recent quarter which may have prompted the bank to realize gains up 63% in the period to preserve profit growth
Quality of earnings is not strong, with more than half of the bank's pre-tax income delta driven by realized and unrealized gains, with credit cost decline the other key driver
Loss NPLs are now 26% of total NPLs, from 11% a few year ago, suggesting worsening credit metrics. Declining credit costs seem at odds with economy, NPL distribution.


Bank of Jiangsu - Fees -33%, Gains +64% Credit Costs -19%, Does Not Suggest Quality Earnings

<ul>
<li>Credit metrics appear worse than headlines, with what may be inflated substandard loans now at 66% of total NPLs in 1H23 compared with 21% in 1H21, requiring low provisions</li>
<li>High net charge-offs can partly explain this, but high growth from RMB1.6bn during 2H18/1H19 compared with RMB7.5bn during 2H22/1H23, shows major deterioration</li>
<li>2Q23 saw CZB take credit costs of RMB10.3bn or 2.48% of loans, far higher than most other periods, but there remains high volatility, where very high figures rarely repeat QoQ</li>
</ul>


Credit metrics appear worse than headlines, with what may be inflated substandard loans now at 66% of total NPLs in 1H23 compared with 21% in 1H21, requiring low provisions
High net charge-offs can partly explain this, but high growth from RMB1.6bn during 2H18/1H19 compared with RMB7.5bn during 2H22/1H23, shows major deterioration
2Q23 saw CZB take credit costs of RMB10.3bn or 2.48% of loans, far higher than most other periods, but there remains high volatility, where very high figures rarely repeat QoQ


China Zheshang Bank- Substandard Loans 66% of NPLs from 21% | NCO's Avg RMB7.5bn Vs RMB1.6bn In Past

United Kingdom

Standard Chartered PLC is an international banking group operating principally in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Company offers its products and services in the personal, consumer, corporate, institutional and treasury areas.

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Standard Chartered (STAN LN)

Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

BOC has seen LDR expansion accompanied by narrowing NIM, raising questions on marginal lending. ROE is worsening dramatically, with credit costs...

Daniel Tabbush

Haitong Securities - Portugal Bank Goodwill Impairment Surge | Overall: High Costs, Poor Revenue

Haitong Securities is set to privatize its wholly owned subsidiary Haitong International Securities for HKD3.4bn, announced this morning.

Daniel Tabbush

UOB - Weaker Credit | Struggling Cost Base | Moving to Trading | A Changing Face

UOB is struggling with operating costs far more than peers, partly from Citibank, partly from oil. Its credit costs are doubling. It is relying...

Daniel Tabbush

Bank of Jiangsu - Fees -33%, Gains +64% Credit Costs -19%, Does Not Suggest Quality Earnings

Dramatically lower fee income, far higher realized gains, and lower credit costs are driving net profit growth, and do not suggest a positive or...

Daniel Tabbush

China Zheshang Bank- Substandard Loans 66% of NPLs from 21% | NCO's Avg RMB7.5bn Vs RMB1.6bn In Past

Substandard loans are now 66% of NPLs up from 21% two years ago, potentially flattering credit costs. NCO's though are surging, possibly a good...

Daniel Tabbush

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